Ejector package



Nov. 14, 1961 z. M. ROL-:HR TAL EJECTOR PACKAGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledMarch 30, 1960 199km Trapper Ansus-l: J. Schi lcl bach XM1 InventorsZbslawM. Roel1r 2W :l1-Harney John 1..)1 Gears u. n Huw Wil. l www virl.

Nov. 14, 1961 EJECTOR PACKAGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 30, 1960 r .mQ @mwah |||..|.l RQP... A n O auch k r m mw /II Mik, vaLeJ. N 7, wwwZJG.

74118115 .AMw

Bg pavia,

United States Patent OiiiceY 3,008,570 Patented Nov. 14, 1961 signors,by mesne assignments, to Brunswick Corporation, Chicago, Ill., acorporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 30, 1960, Ser. No. 18,719 13 Claims.(Cl. 206-43) The presen-t invention relates generally to a package foran article and more particularly, to an ejector package for clinical:apparatus or other equipment which must be maintained in .anessentially uncontaminated or sterile condition.

It is common practice in many hospitals and other institutions toadminister parenteral drugs by means of hypodermic syringes which arediscarded after a single use thereof. The disposable hypodermic syringesare generally sterilized by the pharmaceutical manufacturer or equipmentsupplier, and thereafter must be maintained in a sterile condition untilused. Frequently the sterile disposable syringe is packaged by sealablyenclosing in a cellophane envelope or other plastic film package whichis impervious to bacteria. The packaging of sterile syringes incellophane envelopes is objectionable, however, as the cellophanebecomes embrittled by age and thereafter re-adifly develops cracks withthe consequent loss of sterility. Cellophane envelopes and other plasticiilm packages also are prone to have unnoticed punctures and smallopenings therein which permit the entry of bacteria. The `film packagesalso fail to protect an enclosed syringe yagainst crushing or otherphysical damage and often require the use of shears or other tools toopen the package. It will thus be evident that a plastic ilm envelopedoes not provide the most desirable package for an article which must bemaintained in an essentially uncontaminated or sterile condition.

Rigid plastic containers which are adapted to receive an individualhypodermic syringe have also been devised, as shown in U.S. Patents Nos.2,812,231 and 2,884,123. And, while certain `of these rigid containersprotect a syringe against bacterial contamination, crushing and otherphysical damage While the syringe remains in the container, thehypodermic syringe or other article contained therein cannot be rapidlyand conveniently removed therefrom without danger of contaminating thesyringe. Moreover, when `a syringe having =a hypodermic needle mountedthereon is removed from the foregoing container, it must be handled withextreme care to avoid contamination of the exposed needle cannula. If,prior to packaging, a protective sheath is mounted on the syringe sothat the needle will be enclosed when it is removed from the container,an additional part is required. This is particularly objectionable witha rigid container, since the container must be substantially enlarged toaccommodate the sheath, thus further adding to the cost of packaging.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide animproved package for an article of manufacture which offers increasedprotection to the article contained therein.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a moreeconomical package for an article of manufacture which maintains anarticle placed therein in a substantial'ly uncontaminated condition.

It is 'another object of the present invention to provide a veryinexpensive package which protects the article contained thereon againstphysical damage.

It is 'a further important object of the present invention to provide animproved package for an article which permits rapid and more convenientejection of the article from the package. v

It is still another object of the present invention to provide aprotective package for a sterilized article which permits ejectionthereof with a minimum exposure of the artic'le to bacterialcontamination.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an ejectorpackage for an article of manufacture which continues to protect aportion of the article against damage after ejection from the package.

It is a further object of the present invention to 'provide an improvedejector package which is tamper-proof.

It is also a specific object of the present invention to pro-vide yamore convenient and more economical ejector package for a hypodermicsyringe.

It is a further specific object of the presen-t invention to provide amore economical medicinal-containing hypodermic syringe package forsubstantially prolonging the shelf-life of the package.

It is still another specific object of the present invention to providea package for a hypodermic syringe .which permit-s rapid and convenientejection of the syringe with a minimum exposure thereof tocontamination.

It is an additional specific object of the present invention to providean improved package for sealably enclosing a hypodermicneedle-syringeassembly to protect the assembly against contamination byairborne bacteria and which continues to sealably enclose the hypodermicneedle portion of the assembly after the said assembly is ejected from4the package.

It is still another specific object of the present invention to providea more economical ejector package for a sterile hypodermic syringecontaining a medicament which protects the plunger against beingaccidentally moved and discharging the medicament during both storageand ejectio-n of the syringe from the package.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to thos skilled in theart, from the detailed description and claims to follow.

The foregoing objects of the present invention a-nd other objects whichwill be apparent to those skilled in the art are readily `achieved 'byproviding a main body section or sleeve member which is open at bothends, having a removable closure means disposed at one end of the sleevewith a reciprocable closure member detachably secured in .the other endof the sleeve but which is restrained against movi-ng outwardly throughthe said other end of the sleeve. The reciprocable closure member,however, is movable within the sleeve toward and out said one end of thesaid sleeve and is adapted to supportingly engage an article disposedwithin the said sleeve to eject the said article through said one end ofthe sleeve when sufficient pressure is applied to the closure member tomove the closure member toward said one end of the sleeve. And, sincethe closure member is adapted to remain in protective engagement with atleast a portion of the article when the article is ejected from thesleeve, the closure member continues to protect the article even afterremoval thereof from the container sleeve. Thus, lthe package structureserves a dual purpose by provi-ding a very convenient, safe andeconomical protective package for an article while the article remainstherein and, after ejection of the article therefrom, a part of thepackage structure continues to provide protection for .a portion of thearticle. In addition to having an end of the container sleeve preferablysealably closed against the entry of airborne bacteria or the likecontamination by a reciprocable closure member, another end of thecontainer sleeve is also provided with a removable closure means, suchas a closure cap or sealing strip which also preferably prevents theentry of airborne bacteria. The removable closure means can. be furtherprovided with a frangible seal which must be broken before the bacterialseal is broken or the article removed from the container sleeve, therebyproviding assurance that there has been no bacterial contamination andthat the article has not been tampered with subsequent to originalpackaging.

The present invention will be best understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing illustrating several forms of the invention andwherein:

FIGURE l is a vertical sectional view of a hypodermic syringe disposedin a package embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view partially in side elevation showingthe container of FIGURE l with the syringe in partially ejectedposition;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional View showing a modilied form of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view partially in side elevation showing-a further modied form of t-he present invention;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view partially in side elevation showingthe package of FIG. 4 with the syrings in partially ejected position;and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of a modifie-d form of an upper closuremeans for la package of the present invention.

In the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. l and 2 of thedrawing, a container or package assembly 10 for a hypodermic syringe 11or other article which preferably must be maintained in an essentiallyuncontaminated or sterile condition is formed of a generally hollowcylindrical sleeve or main body section 12 which is closed lat the upperend against contamination with airborne bacteria or the like by aremovable closure cap 13 and is closed at the lower end -by an elongatedhollow cylindrical reciprocable closure member 14 which is adapted to besealably mounted in .the lower end of the sleeve 12, and is also adaptedto be movable vertically within the cylindrical bore 15 of the sleeve12. The lower end of the sleeve 12 is further provided with an innertapered bore forming an inwardly extending yshoulder 16 and a slightlytapered axial opening 17. The sleeve 12 is preferably made of aform-retaining plastic material which is somewhat resilient in thinsections, such as polyethylene.

The elongated lower closure member 14 is adapted to lbe sealably mountedin the axial opening 17 and is formed with spaced inner walls 18. Theexternal surface of the closure member 14 is preferably provided with vaplurality of longitudinally extending ribs 19 to facilitate manipulationthereof. The outer end section .20 of the closure member 14 ispreferably provided with a fibrous filter disk 21 which prevents thepassage therethrough of airborne bacteria while permitting the entry ofair free of bacteria.

The upper end of the closure member 14 is provided with a graduallyoutwardly tapered exterior wall section 22 which is adapted to form asealing engagement with the tapered lateral surface of the opening 17 ofthe sleeve 12. A laterally extending flange 23 is formed at the upperend of the tapered section 22. The ange 23 and the wall section 118 havea maximum diameter which permits longitudinal movement upwardly, and outthrough the upper end of the sleeve 12. The ange 23 is adapted to engagethe yshoulder 16 at the lower end of the sleeve when the closure 14 ismoved downwardly in the opening 17, thereby preventing the closuremember 14 being separated from the sleeve 12 by being moved downwardly`through vthe opening 17. The flange 23 can, if desired, have asufficiently large diameter to frictionally and slidably engage theinner surface of the sleeve 12 so that the closure member 14 will remainin any longitudinal position within the sleeve 12 to which -it is moved.f

The upper end of the closure member 14 has an interior diameter whichfrictionally engages the outer surface of the hub 26 of the hypodermicneedle which is mounted on the discharge outlet 23 of the syringe 11 andforms a bacterial seal around the hub 26. The transverse end wal-l ofthe closure member 14 is also provided with an annular recess 24 whichis adapted to receive the lateral extending flange 25 formed on theneedle hub 26.

It will be evident that any upward axial force applied to the closuremember 14 will tend to force the hub 26 more tightly onto the outlet 28of the syringe 11. And, since the closure member 14 remains frictionallyheld on the hub 26 when the tapered section 22 of the closure 14 isdisengaged from the opening 17 of the sleeve 12 when the closure member14 is moved upwardly through the upper end of the sleeve 12, the closuremember 14 remains sealably mounted on the hypodermic needle of thesyringe when the latter is removed from the sleeve 12. Thus, the closuremember 14 serves as protective sheath for the hypodermic needle 26 afterthe syringe is removed from the sleeve 12.

When the syringe 11 with the needle 26 sealably enclosed by member 14 issealably mounted in the opening 17 of the sleeve 12, the piston Silwhich is operatively mounted in the syringe barrel `311 and the fingergrip section 32 integrally formed with the syringe barrel 31 aresubstantially enclosed within an enlarged end section 34 formed at theupper end of the sleeve 12. The outer transverse surface 35 of thepiston 30 lies in about the transverse plane of the outer end of thesyringe barrel 31 and preferably extends slightly above section 34.

With the syringe 11 fully seated within the sleeve 12 as abovedescribed, the removable closure cap 13 is mounted over the enlargedupper end section 34 of the sleeve 12 enclosing the piston 30. Thelateral wall surface 36 of the cap 13 frictionally engages the outerlateral surface of the enlarged section 34 of the sleeve 12 forming aseal against the entry of airborne bacteria into the interior of thesleeve 12. It is also preferred to provide a frangible seal 37 betweenthe lower edge of the lateral wall 36 of the cap 13 and the outersurface of the enlarged section 34 so that the bacterial seal cannot bebroken and the cap 13 cannot be removed from the sleeve 12 withoutbreaking the frangible seal 37. In this manner, a tamper-proof packageis provided which guarantees the original sterility and that the syringehas not been removed from the package since leaving the manufacturersplant.

In assembling the complete package, one simple procedure which can beused is to first assemble the syringe by fully inserting the piston 30into the syringe barrel 31 and mounting securely the needle hub 26 witha cannula 27 on the discharge outlet 28 of the `syringe 11. The lowerclosure member 14 of the package 10 is then mounted on the needle hub 26with the flange 25 of the needle in seating engagement with the recess24 formed in the transverse upper end wall of the closure member 14. Thesyringe assembly with the closure member 14 mounted therein is theninserted into the sleeve 12 through the enlarged upper end section 34with the end section 20 of the closure member 14 extending outwardlythrough the axial opening 17 of the sleeve 12. The tapered wall section22 is brought into sealing engagement with the inner lateral surface ofthe opening 17 by applying axial pressure downwardly on the end of thepiston 30. Furtherv movement of the syringe and closure member assemblyoutwardly through the opening 17 is prevented by the ange 23 of theclosure member 14 engaging the shoulder 16 of the sleeve 12. The closurecap 13 is then placed over the end of the enlarged section 34 of thesleeve 12 with the inner surface of cap 13 engaging the transversesurface 35. A frangible seal 37 is formed between the cap 13 and thesection 34, as by Iapplying heat to -fusibly join the said parts, toinsure member 14 remaining sealably engaged in the opening 17.

When it is desired to remove the syringe 11 from the package shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the sleeve 12 is grasped between the ngers and thumb ofone hand and the lower or outer end of the closure member 14 is gentlytapped against a support surface or other convenient object to break thefrangible seal 37. When continued pressure is applied to the end of theclosure member 14, the tapered section 22 at the upper end thereof ismoved out of sealing engagement with the opening 17 of the sleeve 12 andthe syringe 11 is simultaneously moved upwardly as the closure member 14applies pressure to the hub 26 (see FIG. 2). When the closure member 14is moved substantially into the interior of the sleeve 12, the barrelsection 31 of the syringe 11 is ejected sufficiently from the upper endof the sleeve 12 to permit conveniently withdrawing the syringe 11 fromthe sleeve 12 with the closure member 14 remaining sealably mounted onand protectively enclosing the needle cannula 27 The closure member 14is allowed to remain mounted on the needle hub 26 to protect the needlecannula 27 against contamination until a charge of medicament is to bedrawn into the syringe. Thereafter, the closure member 14 can bereplaced on the needle hub 26 until the medicament is to beadministered.

After administration, the syringe 11 with the hypodermic needle thereonand the closure member 14 mounted on the needle hub 26 can be reinsertedas a unit into the sleeve 12 and the cap 13 replaced over the enlargedsection 34 to completely enclose the syringe 11 and the needle cannula27. It will thus be evident that the package of the present inventionalso provides a very convenient, inexpensive and safe means of disposingof a single-use disposable syringe and hypodermic needle.

In the modied form of the invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the packageassembly S0 adapted to contain a hypodermic syringe 51 therein is formedof a generally hollow cylindrical main body section or sleeve 52 whichis closed against bacterial contamination by airborne bacteria at theupper end by a removable closed cap 53 and at the lower end by anelongated reciprocable closure member 54 sealably mounted in the lowerend of the sleeve 52. The lower end of the sleeve 52 is provided with aninward extending shoulder 56 and a slightly tapering axial opening 57 atthe lower end of the sleeve 52.

The reciprocable closure member 54 is adapted to be sealably mounted inthe axial opening 57 of the sleeve 52 and is formed with a cylindricallateral wall section 58 and an outer end section 59 both having anexterior diameter not substantially larger than the opening S7 in thesleeve 52 to permit the closure member 54 being moved reciprocably inthe opening 57. The end section 59 is provided with a brous filter disk59 closing the passageway in the end section 59 against the entry ofairborne bacteria.

The upper end portion 60 of the closure member 54 is provided with agradually tapered wall section 61 which is adapted to form a sealingengagement with the lateral surface of the opening 57. A laterallyextending ange 62 is formed at the extreme upper end of the tapered wallsection 61. The flange 62 has a maximum diameter such that it isslidably within the sleeve 52 and permits the closure member 54 beingmoved upwardly and out of the sleeve 52. The ange 62, however, has adiameter larger than the diameter of the opening 57 and prevents theclosure member 54 being entirely separated from the sleeve 52 by movingdownwardly within the opening 57 of the sleeve 52, since the ange 62moves into restraining engagement with the shoulder 56 at the lower endof the sleeve 52 preventing further outwardly movement thereof. Ifdesired, the ange 62 can be provided with a diameter such that itfrictionally but slidably engages the inner surface of the sleeve 52 andwill be held in any given position within the barrel 52 until furtherpressure is applied to move the member 54 axially therein.

The upper end section 60 of the closure member 54 has end section 67with an interior diameter such that it frictionally and sealably engagesthe outer surface of the mounting post 65 formed on the syringe S1 abovethe tapered discharge outlet 66 on which the hypodermic needle hub 68 ismounted. The closure member 54 thus engages the post 65 of the syringe51 and sealably encloses the hypodermic needle 69 without, however,engaging the said hub 68.

Since the closure member 54 remains frictionally and sealably engagedwith the syringe 51 when the closure member 54 and the syringe 51 aremoved upwardly within the sleeve 52 and out the upper end thereof, it isapparent that the closure member 54 also serves as a protective sheathfor the hypodermic needle cannula 69 after the syringe 51 is removedfrom the sleeve 52.

When the syringe 51 is fully seated within the sleeve 52, the lowersurface of the flange 62 is in engagement with shoulder 56 of the sleeve52 and the lower edge of the syringe barrel section 71 is in engagementwith the upper edge of ange 62. The piston 70 is also fully inserted inthe syringe barrel 71 with the outer end 73 of the piston 70 and thenger grip section 72 of the syringe barrel 71 seated within an enlargedend section 74 of the sleeve 52. The outer end surface of the piston 70preferably lies in about the plane of the outer end of the sleeve 52 orslightly above the sleeve 52 when the syringe 51 is fully seated in thesleeve 52. With the parts thus assembled, the end closure cap 53 ismounted over the end of the sleeve 52 with the lateral wall section 76thereof f-rictionally engaging the sleeve 52 to form a bacterial sealtherewith and having the lower edge of the lateral wall section 76adjacent a stop shoulder 77 formed on the outer surface of the sleeve52. It is also preferred to provide frangible seal 78 between the wallsection 76 and the shoulder 77, so that the capI 53 cannot be removedwithout breaking the seal 78.

The several parts of the package 50 are assembled in substantially thesame manner as for the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thus, thepiston 70 is inserted fully in the barrel of the syringe 51 and thehypodermic needle 69 is mounted on the tapered outlet 66 with theclosure member 54 securely mounted on the tapered post 65 of the syringe51. The syringe 51 and closure member 54 thus assembled is inserted intoenlarged end section 74 of the sleeve 52 with the closure member 54extending outwardly through the tapered axial opening 57. The taperedwall section 61 is brought into sealing engagement with the taperedaxial opening 57 by applying pressure to the upper end of the piston 70until the upper surface of the piston 70 lies about in the plane of theupper end of the sleeve 52. The cap 53 is then placed over the end ofthe piston 70 and sleeve 52 and a frangible seal 78 formed between thecap 53 and sleeve 52.

When removing the syringe 51 from the package 50 substantially the sameprocedure is followed as with the embodiment `shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 ofthe drawing, and the sleeve 52 is grasped between the fingers and thumbof one hand and the outer end 59 of the closure member 54 is tappedagainst a convenient object to break the frangib'le seal 78. Ifpreferred, the cap 53 can be grasped with the lingers of the other handvand twisted to break the seal 78 and the cap 53 is then withdrawn. Whenpressure is applied to the outer end 59 of the closure member 54 as byholding the sleeve 52 and pressing downwardly with the end of theclosure member 54 contactly a non-yielding surface, the closure member54 is moved upwardly into the interior of the sleeve 52 andsimultaneously the syringe is moved upwardly and out of the upper end ofthe sleeve 52, since the upper end of the closure member 54 is in directand fully supporting engagement with the syringe 51. The syringe 51which projects frorn the upper end of the sleeve 52 is then wi-thdrawnfrom the sleeve 52 with the closure member 54 remaining securely mountedon the syringe 51 and sealably enclosing the cannula 69 so as to protectit against contamination by airborne bacteria. The syringe 51 having theclosure member 54 secured thereto is used in any of the conventionalWays of the hypodermic syringe having a protection sheath mountedthereon and encloses the hypodermic needle. When the user is ready todiscard the syringe, Athe package 50 can -also be used to enclose theused syringe by following the same procedure for assembly of the package50 described heretofore.

In the still further modified form of the present invention shown inFIGS. 4 `and 5, the package 90 is adapted to icontain a hypodermcsyringe 91 having a medicament within the barrel section 92 thereof andsealably enclosed between the cannula 93 and the forward end of thepiston 94 which is mounted in 'a retracted position in the upper end ofthe said barrel section 92. As in the previously described embodimentsof the invention, the package 90 is comprises of a generally hollowcylindrical main body section or sleeve 96 which is closed againstbacterial contamination at the upper end by a removable closure cap 9'7and at the lower end by an elongated reciprocable closure member 98sealably and slidably mounted in the sleeve 96. The structure andoperation of the closure member 98, the sleeve 96 and the syringe 91correspond precisely with that of the `closure member 54, the sleeve 52and the syringe 51, respectively. Since the syringe barrel section 92`contains a medicament, the cannula 93 is sealably imbedded in the lowerend `section 99 of the closure member 98 to prevent escape of medicamentfrom the syringe.

When the medicament-containing syringe 91 having the closure member 98mounted thereon and with the cannula 93 imbedded therein is insertedinto the sleeve 96, the closure member 98 extends through the opening 95in the lower end of the sleeve 96 and forms a sealing engagementtherewith, precisely as in the previously described embodiment. With thesyringe barrel section 92 fully inserted in the sleeve 96, theinger-grip portion 101 at the upper end thereof is seated in theenlarged section 102 which comprises the upper end of the sleeve 96 andis freely movable in the section 102. Since the piston 94 is in aretracted position, the outer end section 103 thereof extendsconsiderably above the end of the barrel section 92. An upper closurecap 97 is mounted over and spaced slightly from the outer end 103 of thepiston 94 and has the cylindrical wall section 104 thereof insertedwithin the cylindrical enlarged section 102 of the sleeve 96- forming asealing engagement therein to prevent entry of airborne bacteria. Thelower edge of the cap S rests on the upper transverse surface 106 of thefinger-grip portion 101 of the syringe 91. A frangible seal 107 ispreferably formed between the upper edge of the sleeve section 102 andthe contiguous lateral surface portion of the cap 104. It will beeviden-t that the cap 104 prevents bacteria entering the upper end ofthe package 90 and also avoids application of pressure to the end of thepiston 94.

When it is desired to remove the syringe 91 from its package, the sleeve96 is held between the fingers of one hand 'and the lower end 99 of theclosure member 98 is tapped against a stationary surface in order tobreak the frangible seal 107. Continued pressure on the end of theclosure member 98 forces the syringe 91 upwardly and outwardly of the:sleeve 96 suiciently to enable the barrel section 92 being grasped sothe syringe 91 can be withdrawn from the sleeve 96 (see FIG. 5). Sincethe cap 97 rests on the upper edge `surface 106 of the syringe barrel92, the upwardly movement of the syringe barrel 92 does not exert anypressure on the piston 94. The closure member 98 remains sealablymounted on the end of the syringe 91 and sealably encloses the cannula93 after the syringe 91 is withdrawn from the sleeve 96. The enclosuremember 98 thus serves as a protective sheath after fsepanation from thepackage as in the previous embodiments of the invention. When themedicament has been injected in the usual manner, the package can beused as -a receptacle for the -syringe as previously described.

As shown in FIG. 6, the upper end of the main body section or sleeve 110can be sealed against bacterial contamination by means other than aclosure cap mounted over the end of the sleeve 110. Thus, it is possibleto form a sealing engagement between the upper end of the piston 111 andthe sleeve 110 by frictional engagement between an elongated dependingflange 112 on the end of the piston 111 and the inner surface of theenlarged section 113 of the sleeve 110. It is also preferable to providea frangible seal 114 between the upper end 115 of the sleeve 110 and theupper end of the piston 111, ias by contacting the ycontiguous portionswith a surface heated sufficiently to melt the plastic and cause afusion therebetween. The heat seal, such as a spot heat seal, is readilybroken when pressure is `applied to the opposite end of the package.

In each of the foregoing specific embodiments of the present inventionthere is provided an improved package in which the closure member forthe lower end of the main body section of the package performs one ormore of a multiplicity of important functions including the formation ofa bacterial seal with the main body section, the formation of anadditional bacterial seal spaced from the seal on the main body sectionwhich sealably encloses a hypodermic needle cannula or cap mounted onthe end of a syringe, operating as an ejector piston for a syringe orthe like, while at the same time maintaining a sealing engagement abouta hypo-dermic needle cannula, and serving as a protective sheath for thehypodermic needle cannula after complete separation from the main bodysection of the package.

Also, by providing a small but significant frictional engagement betweenthe reciprocable closure member and the inner surface of the sleeve, thesyringe can be held in any desired position of ejectment within thesleeve, depending upon the extent to which the closure mem- Eber isdisposed within the sleeve and thereby facilitate the one-hand removaloperation of the syringe whenever necessary.

It will also be evident that by providing a frangible seal at the upperend of the package, it is possible to guarantee that the bacterial sealsat the upper and lower ends of the package have not been broken, thatthe contents of the package is in the original condition in which it waspackaged, and that the packaged article has not been tampered with.

It should, of course, be understood that it is unnecessary for thesyringe which is enclosed in the package to have a hypodermic needle:attached thereto. Thus, for example, if the syringe 51 of FIG. 3 ydidnot have a hypodenmic needle mounted thereon, the package would functionin the same manner as described and the syringe 51 would be ejected fromthe upper end of the sleeve 52 when pressure is applied to the outer endof the closure member 54. In some instances, it might be possible toshorten the length of the closure member when a hypodermic needle isomitted, provided that the closure member in each instance is rnade atleast sufciently long to push the syringe barrel out of the upper end ofthe sleeve section a sufficient distance and permit the syringe barrelbeing readily grasped for withdrawing from the sleeve.

The package of the present invention is preferably made from a plasticmaterial which can be molded readily and which in thin sections exhibitsa certain amount of resilience but does not readily take a permanent setdue to cold plastic ow iand which can be sterilized readily byconventional means. It has been found that polyethylene plasticsatisfies the foregoing requirements. Polypropylene plastic is alsowell-suited for molding the several parts of the present package. ltshould be understood, however, that several parts of the package do nothave to be made from the same plastic, metal, or other materials. Thus,if desired, the upper cap and sleeve portion which comprises the mainbody of the package can be molded of nylon and the lower reciprocableclosure member which encloses the hypodermic needle can be made ofpolyethylene. Other plastics suitable for use in the present inventionwill be apparent to those skilled in the plastic ant.

:It should also be apparent that the present invention is particularlysuited for packaging medicinal-containing plastic hypodermic syringes orother composition-containing plastic containers which normally have alimited shelf-life because of the loss of moisture or other volatilevapors through the plastic walls and the end closures thereof.Polyethylene plastic, for example, is widely used for plastic syringes,as it is relatively inexpensive, does not adversely allect themedicament, and has good molding properties. Because of the high vaportransmission of polyethylene, however, polyethylene syringes have onlylimited use as medicinal containers. When a medicinal-containingpolyethylene syringe or other plastic container is packaged inaccordance with the present invention, the lateral Walls of the plasticsyringe 'barrel containing the medicament, for example, are completelysurrounded by a sealed air-space which provides an air barrier aroundthe syringe barrel and substantially preventing the loss of vaporthrough the syringe barrel. The upper and lower closure members Aof thepackage of the present invention also sealably enclose the opposite endsof the syringe or other plastic container and provide an additionalbarrier against the loss or entry of vapor through the opposite endtments or closures. Thus, with the package of the present invention itis possible to use the very economical polyethylene plastic and similarplastic materials having relatively high vapor transmission formedicamentcontaining syringes and the like, without shortening thenormal shelf-life of the medicament, and in certain instances are ableto substantially prolong the shelf-life thereof.

A further advantage of the package o-f the present invention is thegreat ease of operation afforded. Thus, it is possible to break thefrangible seal and remove the hypodermic syringe from the containersleeve by using only one hand, as heretofore described. The onehandoperation is facilitated by having a portion of the needle sheath (thelower closure member) frictionally engaging the sleeve to hold thesyrin-ge in a position extending outwardly beyond the upper end of thesleeve. This frictional engagement can be provided by the flange on theupper end of the said closure member or, preferably, lthe longitudinallyextending ribs formed on the outer surface of the lower closure memberare formed so as to extend radially -outwardly sufficiently to form asliding frictional engagement with the tapered lower opening of thesleeve.

While the several specic embodiments illustrating the present inventionhave related to a package containing a cylindrical hypodermic syringe,the package of the present invention is also adapted to protect againstphysical damage and to sealably enclose a wide variety of articles landutensils of a cylindrical and noncylindrical form, particularly -anyarticle which it is desirable to avoid exposing unnecessarily tobacterial contamination. Thus, the instant invention can be readilyadapted to individually packaging clinical thermometers, sutures,scalpels, ampules, vials, and other clinical, pharmaceutical andsurgical apparatus, or articles.

Others may practice the invention in any of -the numerous ways which aresuggested to one skilled in the art, by this disclosure, and all suchpractice of invention are considered to be a part hereof which fallwithin the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

l. A package `for a hypodermic syringe assembly containing a medicamentheld within a syringe barrel between a piston sealably mounted in oneend and a tment means mounted at the other end thereof which comprises atubular container body section, a hypodermic syringe containing amedicament disposed in said body section, a removable cap member mountedon one end of the said body section enclosing said piston which extendsupwardly from said one end of said syringe barrel and engaging said oneend of the body section to prevent entry of airborne bacteria, areciprocable closure member detachably secured to the syringe assemblysealably enclosing the tment mounted on the other end of said syringeassembly a-nd forming a sliding sealing engagement with the other end ofsaid body section rto prevent contaminating the interior of said bodysection by airborne bacteria, said closure member having limitedlongitudinal movement within said body section away from said one end ofsaid body section and being movable within said body section withoutsubstantial restraining toward and out said one end of said body sectionafter being moved llongitudinally out of sealing engagement with saidother end of the body section, and said closure member adapted to remaindetachabl secured to said syringe assembly when moved toward and outsaid one end of said body section; whereby the said closure memberserves as an ejector for the said syringe assembly and also sealablyprotects said other end of the syringe barrel after the syringe assemblyis removed from Said body section.

2. A package as in claim l, wherein said cap member has one end thereofengageable with said one end of the said syringe bar-rel, wherebymovement of said syringe barrel toward and out said one end of said bodysection during ejection thereof from the said body section does notexert pressure upon said piston.

3. A bacteria-impervious package kassembly for sealably enclosing anarticle comprising; a form-retaining container body section havingbacteria-impervious lateral walls providing an article-receivingcompartment with a lower axial opening and an upper axial opening as theonly means of access to the interior of said compartment, an articledisposed in said compartment which is adapted to be inserted into saidcompartment through said upper axial opening, a lower closure membermounted for relative longitudinal movement in said lower axial openingof said body section and having a portion thereof which normally extendsaxially through said lower axial opening beyond the end of said bodysection, said -lower closure member having 4adjacent the upper endthereof an enlarged diameter section providing a lateral circumferentialengagement surface which is adapted to form a complete circumferentialbacteria-irnpervious sliding engagement with said body section adjacentsaid lower axial opening when said lower closure member is moved intoseating engagement in said lower axial opening and thereby preventingthe entry of bacteria into said compartment through said lower axialopening, said lower closure member also :being detachably associated insupporting relationship with said article, and an upper closure elementforming a complete bacteria-impervious engagement with said body sectionadjacent said upper axial opening to prevent the entry of bacteria intosaid compartment through said upper axial opening, and said articlebeing movable with said lower closure member as a .unit longitudinal-lythrough said compartment toward and out said upper axial opening byapplication of axial pressure on the lower end of said lower closuremember without altering the relative position of said lower closuremember and said article; whereby said article is held within saidpackage assembly free of external bacterial contamination and which as aunit with said lower closure member is readily removable from saidarticle-receiving compartment.

4. A bacteria-impervious package assembly as in claim 3 wherein said:lateral engagement surface of said lower closure member is taperedinwardly and said body section has the portion thereof defining saidlower axial opening also tapered inwardly to facilitate said lowerclosure member forming a secure bacteria-impervious sliding engagementwith said body section at the lower axial opening thereof when the lowerclosure member is seated within said lower axial opening.

A bacteria-impervious package assembly as in claim 3, wherein said lowerclosure member has an enlarged upper end section which frictionallyengages an interior wall surface spaced axially from said lower axialopening of said body section to maintain said lower closure member at adesired position intermediate the ends of said body section duringejection of said article from said compartment; whereby removal of saidarticle from said body section is facilitated.

6. A bacteria-impervious package assembled for sealably enclosing ahypodermic syringe assembly comprising; a tubular form-retainingcontainer body section having bacteria impervious generally cylindricallateral walls forming a hypodermic syringe-receiving compartment with alower axial opening and an upper axial opening at the opposite endsthereof providing the only access to the interior of said compartment,said lower axial opening being of a smaller diameter than the remainderof said body section, a hypodermic syringe assembly having a generallycylindrical barrel section disposed in said cornpartment which isadapted to be inserted into said compartment through said upper axialopening, a lower closure member mounted for relative longitudinalmovement in said lower axial opening and normally extending axiallybeyond the end of said body section, said lower closure member alsobeing detachably associated in supporting relationship with saidhypodermic syringe assembly, said lower closure member having adjacentthe upper end thereof an enlarged diameter section providing a lateralcircumferential engagement surface which is adapted to form a completecircumferential bacteria-impervious sliding engagement with an innerlateral surface portion of said body section adjacent said lower axialopening when said lower closure member is moved longitudinally intoseating engagement in said lower axial openings and thereby preventingthe entry of bacteria into said syringe compartment through said loweraxial opening, an upper closure element forming a completebacteria-impervious engagement with said body section to prevent theentry of bacteria into the interior of said body section through saidupper axial opening, and said syringe assembly and said lower closuremember being movable as a unit longitudinally through said compartmenttoward said upper axial opening and out through said upper axial openingby application of axial pressure on the lower end of said lower closuremember without altering the relative position of said lowerclosuremember and said hypodermic syringe assembly to eject said syringeassembly from said body section through said upper axial openings;whereby said hypodermic syringe assembly is held within said packageassembly free of external bacterial contamination and as a unit withsaid lower closure member is readily removable from saidsyringe-receiving compartment.

7. A bacteria-impervious package assembly as in claim 6 wherein saidlateral engagement surface of said lower closure member is taperedinwardly and said body section has the portion thereof defining saidlower axial opening also tapered inwardly to facilitate said lowerclosure member forming a secure bacteria-impervious engagement with saidbody section at the lower axial opening thereof when the lower closuremember is fully seated within said lower axial opening.

8. A bacteria-impervious package assembly as in claim 7, wherein saidlower closure member is detachably secured to said body section adjacentthe lower end thereof.

9, A bacteria-impervious package assembly as in claim 6 wherein saidlower closure member has an enlarged upper end section whichfrictionally engages the interior lateral surface spaced axially fromsaid lower axial opening of said body section to maintain said lowerclosure member at a desired position intermediate the ends of said bodysection during the process of ejecting said article from saidcompartment; whereby ejection of said article from said body section isfacilitated.

10. A bacteria-impervious package assembly as in claim 6, wherein saidupper closure element is a cap member having a transverse end Wall inContact with the upper end of said hypodermic syringe assembly andhaving a depending wall section in engagement with said body sec-k tionto form one of said bacteria-impervious engagements when said syringeassembly and said upper closure element are fully seated in said bodysection; whereby longitudinal pressure on said lower closure membereffecting upward movement of said lower closure member relative to saidbody section simultaneously moves said hypodermic syringe assembly andcap member upwardly relative to said body section breaking both saidbacteria-impervious engagements formed by said lower closure member andby said cap member with said body section and ejecting said hypodermicsyringe assembly from within said body section.

1l. A bacteria-impervious package assembly as in claim 6, wherein saidlower closure member is detachably secured to a hypodermic needle whichforms a part of said hypodermic syringe assembly.

l2. A bacteria-impervious package assembly for a hypodermic syringeassembly which comprises; a generally tubular form-retaining cylindricalcontainer body section having bacteria impervious lateral walls forminga hypodermic syringe-receiving compartment with a lower axial openingand an upper axial opening providing the only access to the interior ofsaid compartment with the lower of said axial openings having a smallerdiameter than the remainder of said body section, a hypodermic syringeassembly disposed in said compartment which is adapted to be insertedinto said compartment through said upper axial opening, said syringeassembly comprising a barrel section having a hypodermic needleassociated with the lower end of said barrel section and a sheathportion protectively enclosing said needle and normally extendingaxially through said lower axial opening, said syringe assembly normallysealably closing the lower end of said body section by forming abacteria-impervious longitudinally sliding engagement with an innerlateral surface portion of said lateral walls of said body sectionadjacent said lower axial opening when said hypodermic syringe assemblyis moved longitudinally into seating engagement in said lower axialopening and thereby preventing bacteria entering into the interior ofsaid body section through said lower axial opening, an upper closure capmember forming a bacteriaimpervious engagement with said body sectionadjacent said upper axial opening to prevent the entry of bacteria intothe interior of said body section through said upper axial opening, andsaid syringe assembly being movable as a unit longitudinally in saidbody section toward said upper axial opening without altering therelative position of said sheath portion and said barrel section tobreak said bacteria-impervious engagements between said closure membersand said body section to eject said hypodermic syringe assembly as aunit from said compartment through said upper axial openings byapplication of longitudinal pressure to said sheath portion of saidhypodermic syringe assembly.

13. A bacteria-impervious container for an article comprising; aform-retaining container body section having bacteria-impervious lateralwalls forming an article-receiving compartment with a lower axialopening and an upper axial opening providing the only means of access tothe interior of said compartment, a lower closure member mounted forrelative longitudinal movement in said lower axial opening of said bodysection and having a portion thereof which normally extends axiallythrough said lower axial opening beyond the end of said body section,said 13 lower closure member having adjacent the upper end thereof anenlarged diameter section providing a lateral circumferential slidingengagement surface which is adapted to form a complete circumferentialbacteria-impervious engagement with said body section adjacent saidlower axial opening when said lower closure member is moved into seatingengagement in said lower axial opening and thereby preventing the entryof bacteria into the interior of said compartment through said loweraxial opening, said lower closure member also adapted to beingassociated in supporting relationship with an article adapted to beinserted into said compartment, and an upper clo- 14 sure member forminga complete bacteria-impervious engagement with said body sectionadjacent said upper axial opening to prevent the entry of, bacteria intothe interior of said body section through said opening.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,117,469 Woodyatt May 17, 1938 2,456,001 Jones Dec. 14, 1948 2,677,373Barradas May 4, 1954 2,915,063 Cutter Dec. 1, 1959

